title: Qualitative analysis of parents' experience of hearing loss of their school going children of a rural area of Nagpur.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Qualitative research methods provide a means of collecting and interpreting narrative or observational data about such interactions, leading to a deeper understanding of the process of health care delivery. This approach was used to clarify key themes from parents' comments about challenges on paths to detect hearing impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory descriptive qualitative research design is used. In-depth interviews by using a semi-structured questionnaire and focus group discussions (FGD) were held with parents, and other study groups. A study was conducted in Deaf Dum Rural School, Saoner, Nagpur district, Maharashtra, India. Purposive voluntary sampling is utilized. Semi-structured and in-depth interviews and FGD were conducted in private rooms. A FGD guide covered open-ended comments to the set of questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents of 65 children (59%) replied to the questionnaire. Out of them, 55 (85.6%) were the parents of school children resides in the hostel. The majority of the children have profound hearing impairment (75.86%). Theme analysis revealed perceptions about causes, ways, and means of early detection, and powerful emotions experienced by parents at FGD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reaching beyond numerical analyses, qualitative studies allow for expression of junior doctors, Deaf and Dump School teacher and parents' thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This study provides a means of collecting and interpreting narrative or observational data.
authors.affiliation: Preventive and Social Medicine, Government Medical College, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Subhash B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Thakre
authors.forename: Sushama S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Thakre
authors.forename: Swapnil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alone
keywords: Focus group discussion; hearing impairment; qualitative analysis